Mosquitoes integrate visual and acoustic cues to mediate conspecific interactions in swarms.

ABSTRACT: Male mosquitoes form aerial aggregations, known as swarms, to attract females and maximize their chances of finding a mate. Within these swarms, individuals must be able to recognize potential mates and navigate the social environment to successfully intercept a mating partner. Prior research has almost exclusively focused on the role of acoustic cues in mediating the male mosquito's ability to recognize and pursue females. However, the role of other sensory modalities in this behavior has not been explored. Moreover, how males avoid collisions with one another in the swarm while pursuing females remains poorly understood. In this study, we combined free-flight and tethered-flight simulator experiments to demonstrate that swarming Anopheles coluzzii mosquitoes integrate visual and acoustic

SUBMITTER: Gupta S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11491102 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature